My toddler’s weekly meal plan by @bloomandfolk
Toddler | Recipes | | Lauren Chattein
Having a toddler is a bit like having a puppy – only without the cute cuddles. They are messy, fussy with food, noisy, constantly on the go and often leave a trail of destruction in their path. But they’re also kind, loving, inquisitive, funny and sometimes, just sometimes, as cute as a puppy.
I’ve found this stage of toddlerhood especially challenging when it comes to filling Bowie, my son, with nutritious food. He is very strong minded and no matter what bribe I use, if he doesn’t want something then he won’t have it. The amount of food I’ve gone through is unbelievable. It can be frustrating – on a Monday he might love pasta and by Wednesday he’ll hate it. Like most parts of motherhood, feeding can be a never-ending circle of teeth gritting joy.
The only thing that keeps me sane and stops food waste is rotating his meals, so he doesn’t have the same things too often. I try my best to batch cook and freeze portions as much as possible, but time isn’t always on my side, so it’s useful to have a couple other tricks up my sleeve.
If we are going out for the day, or Bowie is going to his grandparents’ house, I tend to pack a HiPP Organic toddler ready meal. They don’t need to be kept in the fridge and only take a minute to heat up – perfect for those moments when the world is on the verge of ending if their tummies aren’t filled. Bowie’s favourite is the Spaghetti Bolognese Tray Meal.
I have created a little meal plan template of a typical week in our home. Bowie can be funny with vegetables, so most of the time I hide them in his meals. Bear in mind that this is a ‘best case scenario’ week – usually we’ll swap out some meals for ready meals when it’s convenient.
Monday
Breakfast
Toast with sugar free jam and a yoghurt with a handful of blueberries
Lunch
Veggie quesadilla with cheese and ham
Dinner
Roast chicken with broccoli and potato smiles
Snacks
Strawberries, cheese crackers, quartered grapes
Tuesday
Breakfast
Oat and banana muffin with sliced banana and strawberries
Lunch
Hummus dip with wholemeal pitta bread, carrots and cucumber
Dinner
Spaghetti Bolognese with pureed veg hidden in the sauce
Snacks
Babybel cheese, blueberries and mango roll ups
Wednesday
Breakfast
Multigrain hoops with milk
Lunch
Ham and cheese sandwich with tomatoes, cucumber and veggie straw crisps
Dinner
Wholegrain chicken nuggets with beans, peas and cubed potato
Snacks
Raisins, yoghurt, cheese crackers
Thursday
Breakfast
Toast with cacao spread and sliced strawberries
Lunch
Cheese and spinach muffins warmed with butter
Dinner
Fish curry with rice, hidden veg and a small naan bread
Snacks
Banana, yoghurt, veggie straws
Friday
Breakfast
Porridge mixed with blue milk, half of a HiPP Organic fruit pouch and some chopped fruit
Lunch
Slices of chicken breast, cherry tomatoes, cubes of cheddar cheese, cucumber and a slice of bread and butter
Dinner
Quorn dinosaurs, a mash potato volcano and broccoli trees with beans
Snacks
Dry cereal, a smoothie, cheese cubes
Saturday
Breakfast
Scrambled egg with cheese, sausage and spinach
Lunch
Hidden veggie pasta with parmesan cheese
Dinner
Chicken tacos with rice, veggies, sour cream and salsa
Snacks
Strawberry and banana muffin, yoghurt
Sunday
Breakfast
Pancakes with berries, maple syrup and yoghurt
Lunch
Tuna sandwich with veggie crisps and cherry tomatoes
Dinner
Sunday dinner with roast beef, potatoes, veg, Yorkshire pudding and gravy
Snacks
Orange, apple, cheese crackers
